San Patricio County is selected to be the site of a $10 billion ethylene cracker plant. The facility, if approved, will be operated by Exxon Mobil Chemical Co. and Saudi Arabia Basic Industries.
Chris Ramirez

The Gulf Coast Growth Ventures project in San Patricio County has reached a new milestone in its development — it has obtained the first of its requested permits from the state.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Wednesday voted to approve a wastewater permit for the project, which is a joint venture of ExxonMobil and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation. The $10 billion plastics manufacturing plant, which will be located in San Patricio County, would be the world's largest ethylene cracker plant.

It would sit on a 1,300-acre parcel near Gregory.

Bryan Shaw, chairman of the TCEQ, made a recommendation during a meeting on Wednesday in Austin to deny a series of hearing requests filed by individuals with the state agency. That recommendation — and permit issuance — was approved by the commission, and they also voted to deny requests for a rehearing on the wastewater permit.

"I think it's appropriate to deny those hearing requests either due to failure to comply with the requirements of the hearing request (process), or not demonstrating affected party status through various issues from the standpoint of how specifically they would be impacted by this permit that's being (presented) before us today," Shaw said.

The Gulf Coast Growth Ventures project has been met with opposition from residents in Portland, through a group called Portland Citizens United, as well as environmental organizations from outside the state. Residents in Aransas County, Refugio County and Corpus Christi also filed letters of protest with the TCEQ expressing concern about the impact the potential wastewater discharge from the plant could have for nearby marine habitats.

“This project is horrible on so many levels," said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans program director with the Center for Biological Diversity, on behalf of the group's Texas members. "Polluting beautiful Corpus Christi Bay just to create more throwaway plastic would be a travesty. Plastic and pollutants would flow through the bay and out into the Gulf of Mexico, feeding the global plastic pollution crisis.

"We need to reduce the flow of plastics into our oceans, not ramp it up,” she added.

Artist rendering of the Exxon/SABIC site plan for San Patricio County.(Photo: Contributed)

Individuals also requested a new hearing for the benefit of residents in Aransas and Refugio counties, though that was denied because of "the distance of these counties from the proposed discharge points," according to a letter sent to PCU member Errol Summerlin by Stephanie Bergeron Perdue, interim executive director of the TCEQ, on April 11.

Gulf Coast Growth Ventures project executive Paul Guilfoyle said the company was committed to working with everyone involved to address any concerns. The company has been going through a lengthy permit review process with the TCEQ for wastewater, air quality and construction permits. The latter two phases are still undergoing review from the TCEQ.

“The TCEQ’s public permitting process is rigorous and thorough," Guilfoyle said. "As a good neighbor, we will continue working with entities like the TCEQ, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program and other organizations to fulfill our commitment on environmental stewardship.”

Local officials in San Patricio County and Corpus Christi have also expressed optimism at the financial windfall that could come from the plant's construction, with an estimated 6,000 jobs during the peak construction period and the creation of 600 full-time jobs after it is built.

The facility would be located on the south side of State Highway 181 and on the west side of Farm-to-Market Road 2986, about one mile west of the city of Gregory.

Taft, Sinton and other San Patricio County communities outside the Gregory-Portland area hope Exxon's proposed ethylene cracker plant improves their economies. But the pressure is on for them to first build more homes and roads. Chris Ramirez/Caller-Times

Taft is among the San Patricio County communities gearing up for the arrival of Exxon's $10 billion ethylene cracker plant. This is an artist rendering of downtown Taft. Contributed/Brito Rodriguez Design Studio

ExxonMobil Chemical Company President Neil Chapman speaks Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at the Portland Community Center. ExxonMobil and SABIC announced Wednesday that San Patricio County has been chosen for their new ethylene plant. Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times

ExxonMobil Chemical Company President Neil Chapman speaks Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at the Portland Community Center. ExxonMobil and SABIC announced Wednesday that San Patricio County has been chosen as the location for their new ethylene plant. Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times

Jack Rice Turner looks at renderings of ExxonMobil and SABIC's new ethylene plant the companies announced that San Patricio County has been chosen for its location on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times

Vice Chairman and CEO of SABIC, Yousef Abdullah Al-Benyan speaks at the Portland Community Center following ExxonMobil and SABIC announcement that San Patricio County has been chosen for their new ethylene plant on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times

ExxonMobil Chemical Company President Neil Chapman talks with San Patricio County Judge Terry Simpson talk before ExxonMobil and SABIC announcement that San Patricio County has been chosen for their new ethylene plant. Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times

Members of Portland Citizens United hold signs protesting Exxon before the start of the Gregory-Portland Independent School District board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at the Gregory-Portland Independent School DIstrict Training Facility in Portland. Gabe Hernandez/Caller-Times

Victoria Longo (left) and Elizabeth Longo of Portland Citizens United hold a sign as they protest against Exxon before the start of the Gregory-Portland Independent School District board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at the Gregory-Portland Independent School District Training Facility in Portland. Gabe Hernandez/Caller-Times

Members of Portland Citizens United hold signs as vehicles drive by protesting Exxon before the start of the Gregory-Portland Independent School District board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at the Gregory-Portland Independent School DIstrict Training Facility in Portland. Gabe Hernandez/Caller-Times

Yolanda Samayoa of Portland Citizens United holds a sign protesting against Exxon before the start of the Gregory-Portland Independent School District board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at the Gregory-Portland Independent School DIstrict Training Facility in Portland. Gabe Hernandez/Caller-Times